Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



C. M. SPENCER.

Breach-Loading Fire-Arms.

Patented Feb.11,1873.

4M PHomumasRAPH/c caMKwsBoRNE/Rocesg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.A

CHRISTOPHER M. SPENCER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,671, dated February ll, 1673.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER M. SPENCER, of Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists in improvements in that class o f breech-loading fire-arms in which an oscillating breech-block swings upon an axis at an anterior inferior position to permit the insertion or ejection of the shell. The lrst part of my invention relates to so connecting the hinge of the lever-guard to the firing-pin within the breech-block that the first movement of the lever to unlock and swing 'the breech-block commences to Withdraw the pin within the block and force back the hammer resting on its head; and the second part of my invention relates to the combination, with the breech-block, lever-guard, a-nd firing-pin, of a cam-surface upon the breech-block to cause the firing-pin to be withdrawn and the hammer started and continued to the position of half-cock in the act of opening the breech.

In the drawing, Figures I and Hare partial longitudinal sections, showing the block and lever-guard in dierent positions 5 and Fig. III is an end view of the block.

A is the breech-block, having its axis within the frame of the gunat a, and having hinged Within it the lever-guard B at b. The shoulder d of the lever B, being received Within the recess o in the stationary frame, as shown in Fig. I, and held in place by the recessed spring f bearing against it from the block A, securely locks the block and eectually resists all recoil. A recess, m, in the perimeter of the cylindrical hinge b engages `a shoulder of the l firing-pimp, and it Will be seen that the first movement given to the lever-guard B, to cause it to bear against the block A for the purpose ot' rotating the same upon its center a, Withdraws the pin from the base of the cartridge and within the block, and with the same motion pushes back the hammer, so that when the block is rotated the hammer following upon its cam-surface raised therefrom reaches the position of half-Jock and there remains. This is shown in Fig. II.

The firing-pin has thus a positive motion given it at every movement of the lever, and al1 danger ot' its becoming rusted in the block so as to explode a cartridge by contact with the same is obviated.

Now, having described my invention., `what I claim isl. The combination, substantially as shown,

of breech-block A, lever-guard B, and ringpin p, whereby the firing-pin is Withdrawn and the hammer started in the act ot' opening the breech, as set forth.

9. The combination, substantially as shown,

Witnesses C. E. BILLINGs, H. E. PATTEN. 

